WEBINAR RECORDING

SPEAKERS

The Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Alliance is a legal partnership between six mental health and addiction agencies. The Alliance was formed in order to provide structure to the management of the addiction and mental health system in Huron Perth and to improve client outcomes.

Since 1929, Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services has been the place for east Toronto residents to get the help they need to dream, grow and thrive. Over the past 85 years, our services have grown and changed to support the needs of the vibrant neighbourhoods we serve, including our recent integration (January 2014) with Mid-Toronto Community Services to ensure strong, effective services for our community seniors. Our annual operating budget is $10M; we have a staff team of 250, and the assistance of over 2,000 volunteers annually. Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services is a founding member of the United Way Toronto.

Q&A session to follow

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Catherine Hardman
Executive Director, Choices for Change

Catherine has worked at Choices for Change: Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Counselling Centre since 1990, initially as an Addiction Counsellor, before becoming the Executive Director in 1995. Catherine has been involved in numerous provincial, regional and local initiatives. She was the inaugural chair for the Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Alliance and currently co-chairs the Huron Perth Mental Health and Addiction Network and the South West Addiction and Mental Health Coalition. She was involved in the formation of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario and was member of the Board of Directors until November 2014. In May 2012, Catherine was awarded the Addictions Ontario President’s Shield for her contributions to the field of addictions in the province of Ontario.

Kate Stark
Executive Director, Dixon Hall

Kate Stark joined Dixon Hall as the Executive Director in November 2004. Born and raised in Toronto, Kate has worked in social services for over 35 years, joining Dixon Hall after serving as the Executive Director of Homes First Society during a time of transformative change. She values neighbourhood and safe, healthy community and uses her leadership skills to make change that results in opportunity for community members. As the surrounding community to Dixon Hall undergoes huge urban development, including the redevelopment of Regent Park and the creation of the West Don Lands Community, the agency is challenged with ensuring its services and programs work to create social cohesion and inclusion necessary for the development of healthy communities where all members are welcome. Kate is supported by a strong Board and employee group at Dixon Hall as she leads the agency through a change process that celebrates the agency’s past and strengths and readies it for the new mixed income communities of the future.

Kaarina Luoma
Associate Executive Director, Dixon Hall

Kaarina has over 30 years’ experience delivering community-based health care services. As the former and final Executive Director of Mid-Toronto Community Services for 12 of those years, Kaarina stewarded a doubling of United Way funding and guided a 30% growth in programs and services. The agency’s pioneering work with the HIV/AIDS community and the partnership programs with the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and the Toronto People with AIDS Foundations (TPWA) were introduced with her leadership. She was instrumental in having Mid-Toronto chosen as one of three lead agencies to implement a Community Navigation Access Program (CNAP), an innovative network of over 33 charitable organizations working together to serve seniors in communities across Toronto. Kaarina joined Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services as the Associate Executive Director in January 2014. She continues to use her leadership as a passionate advocate for preserving the dignity of the most vulnerable in the community.